Committee findings strongly welcomed by ENA.
Responding to the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Select Committee's report on carbon capture, usage and storage, David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association, says:
"We strongly welcome the Committee’s findings, especially the need for Government to outline clear steps and targets to match its policy ambitions, prioritise the production of low-carbon hydrogen, and fast-track commercial scale CCUS projects from 2023.
"This technology is critical to tackling our greatest challenges including widespread deployment of low-carbon hydrogen to decarbonise heat and transport. A ‘whole systems’ approach to decarbonisation is needed, which facilitates hydrogen as well as smart hybrid systems and electrification.
"Britain’s gas networks are at the forefront of projects which demonstrate the potential for hydrogen or hydrogen blends to be injected into the grid with minimal disruption to households and businesses. Energy Networks Association’s new Gas Pathways Decarbonisation project is building on this work to maximise progress on ‘greening the gas grid’.
"ENA is also working closely with Government and regulators to address known barriers to hydrogen deployment, and welcomes the Committee’s recommendation to safely and quickly bring forward amendments to two gas management regulations.”
Notes to editor
- ENA’s full submission to the BEIS Select Committee inquiry into carbon, capture, usage and storage can be viewed here.
- ENA's Gas Decarbonisation Pathways Project is a major industry initiative to build on the work that Britain’s gas networks have been undertaking to build a low cost, low carbon network and develop new technologies that make the most of biogas, bioSNG, hydrogen and smart hybrid heating systems. More information is available here.
- Amendments to the Gas Safety Management Regulations and the Gas Control of Thermal Energy Regulation, subject to the safety case being proven, would enable safe levels of hydrogen to be transported via the existing gas grid with minimal disruption to households and businesses.
- HyDeploy, being delivered by a consortium including Cadent and Northern Gas Networks, is preparing to carry out live tests of a blend of up to 20% hydrogen with natural gas from summer 2019 to reduce carbon emissions from cooking and heating.
About Energy Networks Association
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the electricity wires, gas pipes and energy system in the UK and Ireland.
ENA helps its members meet the challenge of delivering electricity and gas to communities across the UK and Ireland safely, sustainably and reliably.
Its members include every major electricity and gas network operator in the UK and Ireland, independent operators, National Grid ESO which operates the electricity system in Great Britain and National Gas which operates the gas system in Great Britain. Its affiliate membership also includes companies with an interest in energy, including Heathrow Airport and Network Rail.
What are energy network operators?
Energy network operators manage and maintain the wires, pipes and other infrastructure which delivers electricity and gas to your home, business and community. They are private companies which are regulated by Ofgem and employ around 40,000 people in Great Britain.